Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi on Saturday, 18 October 2025, expressed confidence that three consecutive days of preparation at Rawalpindi had primed his side for the upcoming ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and England. The seven-match tournament opens at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, with Pakistan facing Sri Lanka before taking on England as early as 20 October.

Shaheen's Confidence in Squad Balance

Shaheen, who has captained Pakistan in 11 ODIs and won seven of them, said the mix of youth and experience in his squad would allow the team to adapt across different phases of a 50-over game. In a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), he said: 'We are excited to begin a busy One-Day Cricket season at our home and against two very good teams. The tri-series will be highly competitive given the presence of a number of skillful and talented cricketers across the three teams.'

On his captaincy approach, Shaheen added: 'As captain I'm looking forward to give my players enough backing and support to get the best out on the field. We had the opportunity to train for three consecutive days and that will hold us in good stead when we take on both Sri Lanka and England in a space of three days before moving to Lahore.'

Team Preparations and Arrival Timeline

The Pakistan squad assembled in Islamabad on Wednesday and has trained every day since. Sri Lanka enjoyed the longest preparation window — arriving on 12 October and holding their first session two days later. England, who landed on Friday, will have completed three training sessions before their opening match. The squad features two uncapped players — Razaullah and Saad Baig — adding an element of fresh talent to a broadly experienced group.

Pakistan's Recent ODI Form

The hosts enter the tournament riding a strong run, having won three of their last four ODI series — defeating South Africa (2-1), Sri Lanka (3-0), and Australia (2-1). Their only blemish in that period was a 1-2 series defeat away to Bangladesh. The form gives them a credible claim as tournament favourites on home soil.

What England and Sri Lanka Said

England captain Harry Brook acknowledged the challenge of unfamiliar subcontinent conditions. 'This will be a massive challenge to play against two really good teams in different conditions to what we are used to at home and in front of great fans in Pakistan,' Brook said. He pointed to England's recent adaptability — wins in Sri Lanka and back-to-back decisive-game victories over India and Sri Lanka at home — as evidence of their ability to find multiple ways to win.

Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis said his side was motivated by the competitive environment. 'Our team is looking forward to this tri-series, and happy to compete with two good teams. We as a team takes every series and tournament that comes our way to compete at the highest level and reach our desired goals,' Mendis said. Sri Lanka arrive having beaten the West Indies 1-0 in a three-match series before falling to England.

Tournament Schedule and What's Next

The first four matches are scheduled in Rawalpindi, with England meeting Sri Lanka on 22 October. The tournament then shifts to Lahore for the final four games, including the 31 October final between the top two sides. With all three captains speaking up about competitive intent, the tri-series shapes up as a meaningful ODI cricket test ahead of the ICC cycle.